Fitchburg, Mass. – Six different players scored in doubles figures as the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team raced past Fitchburg State, 90-78, in non-conference action on Tuesday evening at Parkinson Gymnasium.
In a battle of the Falcons, the guests shot better than 45 percent from the field and forced 27 FSU turnovers en route to their first win of the season. Albertus Magnus (1-1) blew a back-and-forth game open midway through the first half with a run, while Fitchburg State (1-3) dropped their second straight game.
Sophomore guard Ryan Pittman (Stratford, Conn.) led the offensive attack for the visitors with a team-best 18 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and game-high four steals. Thrust into a starting role, freshman forward Damian Grant (Waterbury, Conn.) made the most of the opportunity, scoring 16 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting from the field. AMC Junior forward Jaqhawn Walters (Hartford, Conn.) recorded his first double-double of the campaign thanks to a 12-point, 11-rebound performance. Seniors Shaquille Mitchell (Linden, N.J.) and Devin Coleman (Bridgeport, Conn.) both poured in 12 points apiece, while freshman Jahmerikah Green-Younger (Norwalk, Conn.) netted 13 points off the bench for Albertus Magnus.
Senior guard Jaleel Bell paced the Fitchburg State onslaught with 23 points and nine rebounds. Bell knocked down 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and hit two shots from beyond the arc. Junior forward Joshua Bosworth also scored in double figures for the hosts, dropping 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Bosworth also pulled down eight boards for FSU as well.
Over the first seven minutes of play the two squads traded baskets as a lay in by Walters knotted the game at 16. Two minutes later, another Walters lay up gave the visitors a 20-19 advantage. Following that basket, AMC would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the half and the game. Albertus Magnus closed the half on a 4-0 run to take a 15-point lead into halftime. A free throw from Pittman with 1:20 left capped the scoring in the first stanza and gave AMC a 51-36 edge.
Twice during the second half Albertus Magnus stretched its lead to as many as 20 points. The first time came following a lay up by Pittman with just under 13 minutes left in play and the second came after a Green-Younger jumper with seven and a half minutes left. Green-Younger's basket gave the visitors an 81-61 lead.
A jumper from Mitchell with six minutes left was the last field goal for the guests as the final seven AMC points came from the free-throw line.
AMC avenged a 91-85 setback to the FSU last winter in New Haven. Albertus Magnus scored 80 or more points for the second straight game.
Following the Thanksgiving break, Albertus Magnus returns to action on Tuesday, November 29, with a home non-conference contest against regional foe SUNY Old Westbury. The showdown is the 2016-17 home opener for the Falcons and is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
For the latest information on the men's basketball team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
